Missouri executes man accused of killing 3 people

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Missouri executes man accused of killing 3 people

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) _ A former methamphetamine dealer has been executed for killing three people in rural northern Missouri.

Fifty-four-year-old John Middleton was put to death Wednesday in the sixth execution in Missouri this year. Only Florida and Texas, with seven each, have performed more.

Middleton was convicted of killing Randy “Happy” Hamilton, Stacey Hodge and Alfred Pinegar in 1995. Authorities say he killed the three out of fear that they would report his drug activity to police.

His girlfriend is serving life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in all three cases.

Middleton’s attorneys claimed hewas innocent, citing a new witness who came forward in February saying that rival meth dealers, not Middleton, were responsible for the killings. They also claimed he was mentally ill.

Jefffrey Brown

Thomas

He was NOT “accused” of killing 3 people.
That is incorrect. He was found GUILTY of killing 3 people. He had a fair trial. He killed 3 people, “beyond a shadow of a doubt”, and now he duly paid for it. That is JUSTICE.
The State (The People) should never execute a person on an “accusation”. That would be an injustice.
Sloppy choice of politically correct weepy heart PC wording in the headline ! Biased reporting.